Time delay control mechanism

Abstract

A time delay mechanism for projectiles utilizing angular acceleration to control the flow of a granular material. The angle of the path of the flow with respect to the radius vector is used to differentiate between constant angular velocity and angular acceleration. There are at least three modes in which this capability can be utilized in a projectile: (1) inert material may be moved from an initial location to provide "unlatching" action, (2) active or high energy material may be moved from one location to a second location for utilization at the second location, or (3) inert material may be moved from a location such as a firing chamber where it provides "safing" action and, simultaneously, active material may be moved into the chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A time delay mechanism in a safing and arming device of a spin-projectile, comprising: first chamber disposed substantially at the center axis of said projectile,   second chamber disposed at a greater radius than said first chamber,   fluent material contained in said first chamber for rendering said spin-projectile safe,   means for retaining said fluent material in said first chamber, said retaining means removable upon application of a set back force applied to the projectile, and   a channel connecting said first chamber to said second chamber, said channel is so formed as to retain said fluent material when acted upon by both the centrifugal force and the force of angular acceleration of said spin-projectile in motion and to allow said fluent material to move to said second chamber when the force of said angular acceleration is removed from said fluent material for arming said spin-projectile.   
     
     
       2. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said fluent material is an active material. 
     
     
       3. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said fluent material is an inert material. 
     
     
       4. The mechanism according to claim 1, said channel forms a spiral path between said first chamber and said second chamber. 
     
     
       5. A time delay mechanism in a safing and arming device of a spin-projectile, comprising: first chamber disposed substantially at the center axis of said projectile,   second chamber disposed at a greater radius of said first chamber,   third chamber disposed intermediate between said first chamber and said second chamber,   first fluent material disposed in said first chamber,   second fluent material disposed in said third chamber,   means for retaining said first fluent material in said first chamber and said second fluent material in said third chamber, said retaining means being removable upon application of a setback force applied to the projectile,   first channel connecting said first chamber to said third chamber,   second channel connecting said third chamber to said second chamber, wherein said first and second channels are so formed as to retain said first and said second fluent materials when the centrifugal force and the force of angular acceleration are exerted thereon by said projectile in motion and to allow the movement of said first fluent material to said third chamber and said second fluent material to from said third chamber to said second chamber respectively, when the force of said angular acceleration is removed from said first fluent material and said second fluent material.   
     
     
       6. The mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said first and said second channels are disposed along a spiral path from said first chamber to said third chamber and thence to said second chamber. 
     
     
       7. The mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said first fluent material is an active material and said second fluent material is an inert material.